TRACK & FIELD: Angie Fuss named head coach at Waynesboro Area Middle School

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By Lee Goodwin

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Mar. 2, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Mar. 2, 2013 at 9:00 AM

WAYNESBORO — Angie Fuss seems to be just where she wants to be, and that's closely involved with the Waynesboro Area Middle School track and field program.

It's not exactly like it was years ago when she actually started a middle school program in Woodstock, Va. The program here in Waynesboro has been around, but it's the future that excites the 1996 Waynesboro Area Senior High School graduate.

Fuss, who competed in cross country and track and field in high school, was approved to be the head coach of WAMS on Thursday, replacing long-time coach Barry Donohoe. Fuss spent the past two years as the distance coach for the Braves and Maidens teams.

"This is kind of a surprise that Barry is leaving," Fuss said Friday morning. "He kind of told me at the last minute. I'll still be working with the distance runners. I'll just have more responsibilities."

Mike Bercaw returns as sprint coach. New coaches coming into the program are Kim Flickinger (jumps) and Jyi Smith (throwers).

"I just feel like it's helping the high school team," said Fuss, who sees the middle school program as a feeder system into the high school sport. "I have a lot of kids I recruit to run track here, and it's something they fall in love with here and continue on in high school. Being a WASHS graduate, it's kind of cool to give back to the program."

The boys' and girls' teams start practicing March 11. The first meet is April 10.

"I definitely plan on being a part of the program for a long time," Fuss said. "Everyone's been very supportive. Also, even though Barry stepped down, he wants to be involved as much as he can until his (knee replacement) surgery. He's been really helpful showing me what goes into the head coaching part of it with all the different responsibilities."

After Fuss graduated from WASHS, she attended Hagerstown Junior College for two years and finished her undergraduate education at Radford University in Virginia. She coached at Radford for a time before getting a teaching job in Woodstock, Va., where she started the middle school track and field program.

Fuss is in her fourth year as a health and physical education teacher at WAMS.

"I love this age," she said. "I love working with this age.

"I'm not really looking for the most athletic person, more like someone who has the determination to work hard. When I first started out, I wasn't that athletic. I just worked hard. I want someone who wants to improve themselves and help the team. Track is an individual sport and a team sport."

Fuss is also an avid runner. She runs daily and recently participated in a 24-hour race in North Carolina in January. She signed up to run in a 100-mile event in New York state in August.